Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 17/05) - Nunavut again out-read the NWT in the Read for 15 Challenge held during Literacy Week. Last year, Yellowknife challenged Iqaluit and Iqaluit won. This year, the challenge involved all residents of Nunavut and the NWT.

Premier Paul Okalik presents Kim Crockatt with her literacy medallion from the premier's council. - Kent Driscoll/NNSL photo

"The way the challenge runs is that the winner is the territory that gets the greatest percentage of its population to read," said Brad Heath, promotions co-ordinator with the NWT Literacy Council. "Although we had more people reading, Nunavut had a greater percentage of its population reading."

Nearly 32 per cent of Nunavut residents read for 15 minutes, Kim Crockatt, executive director of the Nunavut Literacy Council, announced. Out of a population of 26,745 in Nunavut, 8,483 readers took part - an increase of about 16 per cent over last year.

About 22 per cent of NWT residents took up the challenge. A total of 9,676 NWT residents out of a population of 42,944 read for 15 minutes. This represents an increase of about 27 per cent from last year.

Readers phoned, e-mailed, faxed and dropped ballots off at various locations throughout the territories.

College campuses, various government departments, members of the legislative assembly and a number of businesses also took part.

"We'll try to come up with a prize next year," Heath said. "The good thing is that both territories increased the number of readers taking part."